[63] Austin Dabney, a remarkable free man of color, died at Zebulon.  His remains repose, we understand, near those of his friend Harris.  The following account of Dabney, as given by Governor Gilmer, may be interesting: 

In the beginning of the Revolutionary conflict, a man by the name of Aycock removed to Wilkes County, having in his possession a mulatto boy, who passed for and was treated as his slave.  The boy had been called Austin, to which the captain to whose company he was attached added Dabney.

Dabney proved himself a good soldier.  In many a skirmish with the British and Tories, he acted a conspicuous part.  He was with Colonel Elijah Clarke in the battle of Kettle Creek, and was severely wounded by a rifleball passing through his thigh, by which he was made a cripple for life.  He was unable to do further military duty, and was without means to procure due attention to his wound, which threatened his life.  In this suffering condition he was taken into the house of a Mr. Harris, where he was kindly cared for until he recovered.  He afterwards labored for Harris and his family more faithfully than any slave could have been made to do.

After the close of the war, when prosperous times came, Austin Dabney acquired property.  In the year 18—­, he removed to Madison County, carrying with him his benefactor and family.  Here he became noted for his great fondness for horses and the turf.  He attended all the races in the neighboring counties, and betted to the extent of his means.  His courteous behavior and good temper always secured him gentlemen backers.  His means were aided by a pension which he received from the United States.

In the distribution of the public lands by lottery among the people of Georgia, the Legislature gave to Dabney a lot of land in the county of Walton.  The Hon. Mr. Upson, then a representative from Oglethorpe, was the member who moved the passage of the law, giving him the lot of land.

At the election for members of the Legislature the year after, the County of Madison was distracted by the animosity and strife of an Austin Dabney and an Anti-Austin Dabney party.  Many of the people were highly incensed that a mulatto negro should receive a gift of the land which belonged to the freemen of Georgia.  Dabney soon after removed to the land given him by the State, and carried with him the family of Harris, and continued to labor for them, and appropriated whatever he made for their support, except what was necessary for his coarse clothing and food.  Upon his death, he left them all his property.  The eldest son of his benefactor he sent to Franklin College, and afterwards supported him whilst he studied law with Mr. Upson, in Lexington.  When Harris was undergoing his examination, Austin was standing outside of the bar, exhibiting great anxiety in his countenance; and when his young protege was